What steps can Africans take and lead in Internet governance and social justice?

Almost three years ago, I published a blogpost on CircleID titled “Internet Governance: Why Africa Should Take the Lead.” I argued that African Internet stakeholders use a ‘wait and see approach’ in matters as critical as Internet governance,” and that African voices are missing in key Internet governance discussion fora. Additionally, I suggested that some reasons for this approach, including that Africa lacks well-trained Internet governance experts and Africans see foreign affairs and international relations as an East versus West dynamic. I further urged for a change in this situation, as the “wait and see approach” is gravely interfering with the basic human rights of Africans.

As a follow-up to the post above, and building on previous work on the African Media Law and Digital Native Roundup with the University of Pennsylvania, this post is a summary of a major forthcoming publication focused on the 2014-2016 period that highlights the regional trends concerning Internet governance and information and communications technology (ICT) policymaking processes in Africa.

This post is divided in two parts. The first relays my observations about trends over the past three years in African ICT policy, human rights, and development processes, and highlights key challenges and opportunities. The second provides recommendations for African citizens on what can be improved.

Given this challenge, it has been necessary for Africans stakeholders to take the lead at addressing solutions going forward, such as by drafting a joint letter, and producing the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) October 2016 Statement on an intentional Internet Shutdown relevant to national stakeholders and authorities at the African Union and the United Nations, among others.

Trends on multi-stakeholder policymaking

Recent research on multi-stakeholder policymaking processes have identified gaps in Africa, which can be addressed by citizens being at the forefront in demanding their rights to participate in an organized manner. As I noted, “In 2013, a draft African Union Convention on the Confidence and Security in Cyberspace (AUCC) … was scheduled to pass during an AU meeting in January 2014, but was delayed as a result of protests from the private sector, civil society organizations, and privacy advocates who had very little involvement in the process.”

Trends on intermediary liability, business, and digital rights

A June 2016 publication on the Association for Progressive Communication (APC) stressed that there were attempts at imposing intermediary liability on businesses, which would affect human rights across Africa. As I previously wrote: “In contrast to U.S. telcos, African operators push back on rights-violating demands. Three telecommunications companies in the West African nation of Guinea Conakry (formerly French Guinea) just said “no” to demands that they hand over all subscriber and call data.”

Trends on cybersecurity, rule of law, and human rights

With the adoption of the 2014 African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, a trend of enacting cybercrime legislation has emerged across Africa. This convention is now at the stage where it is undergoing ratification across various national assemblies in African Union member countries, which will take effect after the 15th instrument of ratification has been deposited at the African Union. For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, 13 countries engaged in attempted domestic reforms on ICT laws by coming up with 20 draft/new regulations/laws between the June 2014 and September 2016 period.

Trends on freedom of expression

While enacting the abovementioned laws, governments have inserted provisions that can extend criminal libel/defamation to apply online, which is having a chilling effect on online speech. This negative development has been further enhanced by vague legislation banning “misuse of telecommunication gadgets,” which I wrote: “[Such laws] represent a powerful tool for silencing the voices of people who are dissenting from the government or otherwise critiquing those in power.”

Moving forward: What should citizens and civil society do differently to achieve more equal and just societies in Africa?

Call on their governments to engage on all recommendations accepted at the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process.

Call on their governments and other stakeholders to engage in development of National Action Plans on business and human rights, with the following countries taking the lead: Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia.

One thought on “What steps can Africans take and lead in Internet governance and social justice?”

many thanks for your analyse and comments. In your last text under the point:
“Moving forward: What should citizens and civil society do differently to achieve more equal and just societies in Africa?”

This is not a realy proposal for the people in Africa. All 3 points start with:
“Call on their governments …”

What is your perspective. The continuation of the slavery system, the colonialism?

The core in general is, like in all regions on our planet, if the people itself don’t organise her technical infrastructure, and the telecommunication is part of that, you will never be able to create it. The elites don’t like this infrastructures. They like to use it only for her private enrichment.

Clear, the same we have in Europe, America and Asia. But you in Africa can start to go another way. Based on that, what you/we need. Create the capability to organise it self. And this capability always rest in the people and never in any private or state institution or organisation.

“Why Africa Should Take the Lead.” Yes, why? And not “Internet Governance”. This nonsense we don’t need. We need the telecommunication in form of a InterNet, the Inter-connection of local Net-works, a transport system for digital data in packet form.

But with this perspective, if you are willing to act for the people in Africa, you never have to look to “stackholders” or any other nonsense. You have to search the way for independence in the technology. And with most of this people in all this “Internet Governance” list and groups it will be impossible.